Republicans lay groundwork for healthcare repeal

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Los Angeles Times/Chicago Tribune

Republicans lay groundwork for healthcare repeal
Seeing a chance to regain power next year, GOP activists are making sure they're ready to act on a full rollback of President Obama's overhaul.
By Noam N. Levey, Washington Bureau

10:45 p.m. CDT, October 17, 2011

Reporting from Washington— Republican activists, increasingly optimistic they can win the White House and Senate next year, are beginning to lay the groundwork for a multi-pronged campaign in 2013 to roll back President Obama's sweeping healthcare overhaul.

The push includes an effort to pressure Republican candidates to commit to using every available tool to fully repeal the law, a tactic pioneered by conservative activist Grover Norquist, who made an anti-tax pledge de rigeur for GOP politicians.

Other conservative healthcare experts are developing an alternative to the law, an effort that could protect Republicans from past critiques that their healthcare plans left tens of millions of Americans without medical coverage.

"The window for action comes and goes," said Tom Miller, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, one of several conservative groups involved in the effort. "We need to be ready."



Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/la-na-gop-healthcare-20111018,0,4239025.story

[Harmony Blue]

1. I think that it is futile

and Norquist is selling them up the river to make major bank $$$.

[2Design]

2. This is what they are spending their time on instead of jobs

[Harmony Blue]

3. It is a massive disconnect

given most of the public's outrage on this issue was spent more than a year ago. Furthermore, even assuming it is something most Americans still have on their minds, I do not see it being an issue that towers over the problem with the lack of JOBS.

[WingDinger]

4. The more Repubs say repealing Obama is path to prosperity, the worse they will be

pummelled by same. Their idea of an idea has no idea.

[cstanleytech]

5. I thought they layed the groundwork by buying Thomas off on the SCOTUS?

[SoapBox]

6. WTF????

Man!

These assholes never, ever stop.

Hey, GOPBagger ASSHOLES, you are the TOTAl fail for America.

And then this? Die, Die, Die...that is all you want Americans to do.

How's about this...DOUBLE finger...and I hate you.

[AsherWI]

9. n/t

[area51]

7. Why should they want to repeal the insurance co. welfare act?

It's the republicans' own 1993 health care proposal.

[progressoid]

8. +1

[Fruittree]

13. Because although it is far from perfect...

it will mandate coverage for everyone...it covers young adults...it covers those with pre-existing conditions and it requires that the companies spend a certain amount of the money they take in on actual patient care. In other words it puts some government control on a less than ideal situation.

[pampango]

15. They must view as more progressive than some do. n/t

[ehrnst]

16. Because the 1993 Act was meant to discredit a Dem President's health care overhaul.

Now they need to discredit another Dem president's health care overhaul. They know their base is ignorant of the facts, and they do everything they can afford to do to keep it that way.

[Skittles]

19. yup, it is a repuke wet dream

made sour because it's coming from a so-called Democrat

[Juche]

20. Because a black democrat passed it, ergo it is bad and must be undone

Plus if it works, people will want more. That is the thing that scares the right about socialism the most, people like Bill Kristol will admit as much. People love socialism once they get a taste of it. Ask any tea party member if he wants to get rid of a public police force, fire department, public libraries, medicare, social security or universal public education and replace them with fee for service programs with high copays and tons of restrictions and exclusions. Something like 80% are opposed to doing it. Even the most anti-socialist segments of the public (the tea party) won't give up socialism once they get a taste of it. Hence the people holding up signs that say things like 'keep government out of my medicare' or 'don't destroy medicare to create socialized medicine'.

The big fear is not only that the public will love this form of regulation/socialism (universal health care), but that it will grow like other gov. programs do. Social security at first didn't cover widows or farmers. Medicare at first didn't cover prescription drugs. But those programs were added. Down the road a public option, Rx negotiations, more comparative effectiveness, etc. will likely be added to the law.

[AsahinaKimi]

10. They are wasting time and money

our money.

[jmowreader]

11. Translation: If you give us the Big 3, we will continue to do nothing

The only problem with the entertainment value that would be provided by the GOP getting free reign to carry out their Randian fantasies is the nation would never recover.

[Politicalboi]

12. Why doesn't Grover run for Prez

I'm sure those families that have their children back on their insurance will appreciate this, or pre existing conditions.

[CBHagman]

14. Because it's comfier for him to pull the strings behind the scenes.

It fairly boggles the mind to think a man most Americans have never heard of has put such an imprint on the Republican Party.

[wordpix]

17. you've got to wonder what Grover has on these repugs - maybe sex tapes?

[Juche]

18. There goes my health insurance

The only reason I am insured is because the affordable care act created pre-existing pools for people who can't buy insurance on the private market due to pre-existing conditions. My employer misclassifies me as a temp to avoid offering benefits (despite the company being global and earning hundreds of millions a year in profits) so I don't get health insurance via work. I don't qualify for programs like medicaid since I don't have kids.

Luckily I'm fairly healthy and reasonably young. But I was really hoping once 2014 comes along I won't have to be uninsured constantly. Employers aren't offering health care (and that is if you can find employment) and I can't buy it on the private market.

Republicans are fucked up.